100 march in opposition to possible war with Iraq

Activists from all over Bloomington met at Showalter Fountain Monday to demonstrate their desire for a peaceful future. One year to the day after the first U.S. attack on Afghan soil, the activists marched past IU's campus and through Bloomington demanding exactly what the signs raised above their heads said -- peace.\nGraduate student Michelle Henderson brought her children with her to demonstrate support for the end of fighting and the beginning of a peaceful course.\n"I thought if I showed up with kids people would realize there are kids in the Middle East too," Henderson said. "And those kids don't deserve to die."\nMore than 100 people participated in the procession for peace. The procession began at Showalter Fountain with a statement from Timothy Baer, an organizer for Bloomington peace action coalition.\n"For those killed, injured, starved, and maimed we gather together to express that we oppose war," Baer said. "The only thing that war achieves is death, pain, destruction, suffering and the perpetuation of the cycle of violence."\nThe march continued slowly and in silence down 7th street, around Woodburn Hall, through the Sample Gates and down Kirkwood Avenue, where the crowd reached the courthouse and prepared for more statements from Baer.\n"We must be the change," Baer said. "Let it not be said that the people of the United States did nothing when their government declared a war without limit."\nSophomore Lauren Taylor was one of the students who helped plan the rally. Taylor said she was hoping to see more students in attendance, but was happy with the overall results.\n"This is to commemorate the beginning of the loss of life and humanity this war has cost," Taylor said.\nMaria Bucur, an assistant professor of history, said she was participating to protest further escalation which could lead to a war in Iraq.\n"I don't think there is the kind of danger the president thinks there is in Iraq," Bucur said. "Going along with the U.N. is the only viable option right now."\nBloomington resident Anna Carver-Gay said she was proud to be a part of something dedicated to peace.\n"If we're going to remember Sept. 11 we need to remember all the bad things that happened," Carver-Gay said. "Not just those done to Americans."\nFor the participating public the rallying cry of "A war without end, not in our name" gave the crowd strength as they ignored honking horns from passing traffic and convinced many passers-by to join the procession.\nSenior Clint Baker had never partaken in a mass demonstration before Monday, and said he was glad he showed up.\n"It just felt like I had to act upon the courage of my convictions and come out today," he said.